Holly & Mike are full of adventure.  Last year, for six months, they just traveled.  Like, just left everything and went to see the world.  I could not possibly be more jealous.  And when they’re not running all over the world, they’re making the most of their own backyard: surfing, camping, all the good adventure stuff that most of us mean to do, but end up sitting in front of a computer instead.

They see their marriage as an adventure, always striving to challenge each other to new and exciting adventures.  I think they’ll always keep one another on their toes, always excited, always fresh.  The wedding was just the beginning.  A perfect day to make two families become one.  The weather was incredible, the details meaningful and the laughter bountiful.  The best way I could ever imagine to close out this wedding season for me!

Holly & Mike – Your love of life is absolutely infectious.  I am so happy to have documented this first adventure of your married life, and I can’t wait to see where it takes you.  Congratulations!

Kristen & Christopher are adventurous.  They are wildly fun and vivacious and up for absolutely anything.  They camp and they travel and they love to go out on road trips… a road trip was actually one of their first dates!  It was also on such a trip that Christopher asked Kristen to be his wife.  So, I found it only fitting that they wanted to shoot their engagement session while on a road trip!

We headed out toward Malibu, stopping along the way to shoot a bit and eat some snacks, because really, what is a road trip without snacks!?  It was a session perfectly tailored to the two of them, and I loved it!

Kristen & Christopher – I am giddy excited for your wedding!  Thank you so much for choosing me, and letting me be a part of this beautiful story that you’re spinning.  See you in May!

It’s October.  OCTOBER!  Renee & Patricks’ wedding has always seemed like it was so far away for me.  Because, well, it was in October.  It’s hard to think about fall and pumpkins and chilly evenings when it’s 100 degrees outside.  But, October 1 came and I found myself in the fall, and still in the heat.

Renee & Patrick were married this Saturday at the Vin di Cool Estate.  It was a beautifully heartfelt ceremony, and incredible day and so much fun!  Renee went to great lengths to ensure every detail was considered.  I absolutely adored her custom made gown.  The “stolen lace”  on her veil nearly killed me.  It was so absolutely gorgeous and makes me want to wear a veil on a regular basis.  And each bridesmaid in a different custom made dress, love.   All in all, it was a beautiful day.  Thanks so much to Jen for coming along to second shoot for me.  And to Elena & Melissa of So So Fab Events for coordinating everything so beautifully!

Renee & Patrick – Congratulations a million times over!  I am so happy for you two!  I hope you’re sitting on a beach right now, without a care in the world!

I am incredibly sad that I have never lived in New York City… when I was young and living in a 200 square foot, four story walk-up would have been a dream!  There’s something about this city that draws me in, makes me feel comfortable.  I love the walking, the food, the cocktails, the weather, the neighborhoods, all of it.  When I’m there, I realize that I miss the change of the seasons.  In a fit of mad hysteria, I realize that I even miss the rain.  In my dreams, I see myself with a sweet pre-war pied-à-terre in the city.   It would be the best of both coasts!

And I’ve been dying to shoot there.  Last week the stars aligned and I was able to shoot a beautiful session in Chelsea.  Brianna & Jeff are as absolutely adorable as they come.  They were so much fun, so helpful & so kind.  We laughed our way through Chelsea and up to the Highline.  It was perfection.

Brianna & Jeff – Thank you so much for such a wonderful afternoon!  I had such a lovely time and I couldn’t possibly be happier for the two of you!

Sometimes when I have really terrible days, I buy myself something special to cheer myself up.  Last week, there is a small chance I may have gone overboard after a particularly nasty day.  I bought the Contax 645 and had it shipped to New York for this session!  I’ve been eyeing one for months.  MONTHS!  I can’t believe I held out for so long.  This camera is butter.  These are a few of the film shots from our session.

Just a teeny heads up, I’m heading back east for a few days in NYC!  Some fall weather, a little shooting, a little racing & some good old fashioned eating.  Likely, it will be mostly eating, so I’m thankful for the exercise we’ll be getting on Sunday!   If you’re in the area, and looking to do a little running too, check out The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation 5K.  It’s an incredible race that my family participates in every year (well, just last year, but now this year, and probably next year too!).  Click here for the video Chris put together of last years’ race… it’s really a beautiful event.

See you next week!

When I walked into the Gerharts living room, I expected to see a baby.  Well, two babies.  A baby I’d shot a few times before, and a brand new sparkly one.  There was definitely the brand new one, Emerson, so absolutely adorable.  She literally beams withe excitement.  And she’s sparkly.  You want to put her in your pocket she’s so cute.  But I almost fell over when Colin came running to the door.  Then jumped on the couch and yelled “CHHHEESE!” as he posed for my camera.  I shot Colin for the first time when he was six months old, about Emersons’ age.  Then again when he was just over a year.  But now at two-and-a-half, he’s such a boy!  So much energy, so much excitement, the most adorable golden brown hair I’ve ever seen.  He’s got so much personality!  He could go right into my pocket too.

Andrew, Beth, Colin & Emerson – I am absolutely loving watching your family grow.  Two such beautiful, such incredible kids!  Thank you so much for allowing me to document your family as it unfolds!

My absolute most favorite thing to do on a Sunday morning is head to an antique market.  My husband hates it.  And after much whining and arguing over how much we should be willing to pay for a set of andirons, he is no longer allowed to attend with me.  So, I usually head out bright and early with a few girlfriends.  I own one of those crazy push carts that are typically only seen being pushed by women over 70.  It’s red and oh so fancy.  In a few hours, I’ve filled it to the brim… I think I’ve never left a market empty handed.  These little treasures, each one with a history that I’ll never really know (but always create in my mind) make me so happy, fill our house with such character.

My absolute favorite one is the Long Beach Antique Market, the third Sunday of every month.  Yesterday, I headed down with two former brides turned fabulous friends and added a little character to the house.  The concrete lion head weighs about a million pounds and is currently hanging on the wall in our backyard, overlooking the tomatoes.  The green decanter is so absolutely beautiful and I could look at it all day.  Gilded cups make espresso taste so much better and cut crystal glasses make cocktails much more delicious.  And the orange Japanese bowl, makes me swoon.  Teeny trinkets of happiness

I found out early in my own wedding planning that weddings are so much more than the joining of two people.  It’s really the joining of two families, two circles of friends.   And weddings are such great celebrations of this new larger family.

For Brookes’ family, weddings are all about their tight knit families. Every member of the family comes together to put on a fabulous event!  Brookes’ Uncle & his family provided the venue, the backyard of their beautiful home in Woodland Hills. Complete with a barn, it was an incredible backdrop! Brookes’ cousins put together a gorgeous arch for the ceremony site, they baked cookies & put together an amazing dessert table. Brooke’s sister made the adorable blue & white pennant flags hung throughout the property. And Brooke did an amazing job of pulling it all together. Every part of the day was a DIY project… the perfect homespun event! Their families worked tirelessly to create an amazing day for Brooke & Steve!

And I was so thrilled to be a part of this incredible day!  Even more excited to see it on Ever-Ours.  And now so happy to share it on my own blog.

Brooke & Steve – Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of such a gorgeous day!  It was so much fun and I’m so thrilled for the two of you.  Congratulations!

I adore Diana & Eric.  Adore!  They are fun, creative, incredibly sweet, and an absolute joy to photograph!  When Diana emailed me after our initial meeting, she wrote me a poem.  A POEM!  An amazing roses are red poem asking me to be their photographer.  I knew that we were meant to be!

Saturday morning started with clouds & thunder in the valley.  Clearly, I went into a near panic about what we were going to do, how we were going to spend the ample amounts of portrait time we had and what we were going to do with an outdoor ceremony!  But the weather was on our side and we had such a gorgeous day wondering the grounds of UCLA.

Diana & Eric were so calm, so relaxed, our portrait time was an absolute dream!  The ceremony was personal & sweet, really reflecting the two of them.  The day flowed so absolutely smoothly… really, the most perfect day I could have ever asked for.  Absolute perfection.

Diana & Eric – It was so great!  Your wedding day was so much fun and I’m so happy that I was able to be a part of it!  I hope that Greece is treating the two of you incredibly well!   Congratulations!

I was so thrilled to see Dianas’ Haute Bride bracelet, it’s the same one I wore on my wedding day!

Eric gave Diana this necklace the morning of their wedding.  They’re aquamarine stones, her birthstone and her something blue.

Diana, you are gorgeous.

I swooned when I met with Lorraine and her mother last year.  Fell head over heels in love with her inspiration, Vintage Chanel.  I knew that we were a match made in heaven and I have been looking forward to this wedding for forever.  It was my very last for 2010 and I can’t imagine a more perfect way to end last year!

Lorraine & Erik were married at the San Gabriel Mission and celebrated at The Rococo Room in Pasadena.  Lorraine picked up pieces at flea markets and created some incredible details to bring her inspiration to life.  I knew she wouldn’t leave a single detail untouched, and she didn’t!  It was romantic and luxurious.  A dream to shoot!

Lorraine & Erik – Soo many congratulations!  I’m beyond thrilled for the two of you and am so excited to have been the one to document your absolutely lovely day.  Seeing your wedding in print was absolutely magical for me, thank you for creating so loveliness for me to shoot!  I hope it’s been an incredible first year of marriage!

I had a small love affair with her Jimmy Choo shoes.